Reports confirm that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin. The location is said to be Russia’s black sea resort of Sochi and the Turkish presidency confirms the date as August 5.
Turkey collaborated with the UN to persuade the warring parties to strike a pact in Istanbul last week that would allow grain exports over the Black Sea to resume.
Erdogan’s vows to begin a fresh military incursion into northern Syria have alarmed Russia.
In the ten-year conflict, the Syrian government has received help from Russia and Iran, while different opposition factions have received support from Turkey.
Erdogan was encouraged last week not to begin a new Syrian offensive by both Putin and the leaders of Iran.